Coronavirus: Part-time jobs plummet by almost 70%

The decline in the number of part-time jobs available is most likely to affect lower-income workers and women. (Getty)

Part-time employment in the UK has fallen at its fastest rate in over eight years with a 69.4% loss in part-time vacancies in the past 11 weeks, a study has found.

Part-time work now only makes up 0.9% of the jobs currently available in the UK, according to the latest research by job search engine Adzuna.co.uk.

However, demand for part-time and temporary jobs has surged as many people have lost their jobs and incomes as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

Searches for ‘tutor jobs’ have increased by 235% month on month, as workers look for additional sources of income during the COVID-19 lockdown.

There has also been a 650% month on month rise in interest for positions such as Amazon (AMZN) delivery drivers as consumers turn to online shopping during lockdown. Tesco (TSCO.L) drivers have also seen a notable increase, rising by 125% month on month, as shoppers opt for online deliveries.

Interest in ‘part-time NHS’ positions has grown by 26% as calls for key workers continue.

The decline in the number of part-time jobs available is most likely to affect lower-income workers and women. The average part-time wages are 22% lower than full-time wages when calculated by the hour and women make up just under three-quarters of part-time employees in the UK.

Across all sectors the UK has lost 57% of vacancies in the past 11 weeks, with hospitality, energy, graduate, property, and trade and construction the worst affected industries.

Hospitality and catering has lost 83% of all advertised vacancies after pubs, bars, and restaurants have been forced to close for the past seven weeks.

Graduate positions are down by 76%, losing 11,278 advertised positions. Almost two-thirds (63%) of university students due to graduate this summer have had their job applications paused or withdrawn because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a recent YouGov survey.

"Widespread site closures and business shutdowns across the supply chain meant that vast swathes of the construction sector halted all activity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tim Moore, economics director at IHS Markit.

Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said: “The drop in part-time vacancies is alarming and will spark concern for many workers across the UK, who will rely on part-time work to manage their family or other personal commitments while receiving a stable income.

“The downfall in vacancies is reflective of the economic uncertainty felt across the UK right now as we continue into our seventh week of lock-down.

“However, we are starting to see vacancies in countries such as Italy and Germany make a slow but notable recovery this week as lock-down restrictions ease, so we hope to see similar improvements in the UK if regulations ease in the following months.”